Maria Haskins's Blog, page 55
August 24, 2015
Memories of writer’s block
This is an old post I wrote for my personal blog several years ago, and I’ve done some editing on it (cutting out some dead wood). I’m mostly past these issues in it now (though the dread of being incapable of writing still haunts me). My writer’s block is like a phobia. Some days just opening a .doc … Continue reading →
Dealing with writer’s block – or – Once upon a time I was a writer
This is an old post I wrote for my personal blog several years ago, and I’ve done some editing on it (cutting out some dead wood). I’m mostly past these issues in it now (though the dread of being incapable of writing still haunts me). My writer’s block is like a phobia. Some days just opening a .doc … Continue reading →
August 18, 2015
Comfortably numb – the split personality of an expat
This year I’ve been a resident of Canada for about 23 years. I originally wrote this piece for my private blog, but I’m bringing it over here to share as well. When I first moved to Canada it was kind of like being on an extended vacation. It was all exciting and new and amazing: oh look … Continue reading →
August 17, 2015
Chekov’s gun, writing, Frodo, and Westeros
The full quote by writer Anton Chekov (or at least one variation of it) reads: “Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to … Continue reading →
July 26, 2015
Prologue – Birth (a new work in progress)
Posting something different today. This is a prologue of sorts, a glimpse of a fantasy tale in the making. It’s a project that’s been with me for a while, and I’ve got a couple of science fiction projects to finish before this one gets off the ground… but… well, here it is. Prologue – Birth … Continue reading →
July 22, 2015
Stories that creep under your skin – JASON MCINTYRE’S ‘Nights Gone By’
I first became acquainted with Jason McIntyre’s writing in the multi-author short story anthology Triptychs where his writing hooked me on the spot – and Nights Gone By is another excellent read. Each story in this collection is a well-written, suspense-filled, and captivating tale – and each one has a twist or an edge or a gleam of darkness that got … Continue reading →
July 13, 2015
Today’s book-tip from my kids
Today’s book-tip from my kids is Guji Guji, a lovely tale about a rather strange, but very brave, duckling. The story is funny and heart-warming, and the illustrations are charming and hilarious. Find it at Amazon: Guji Guji, by Chih-Yuan Chen.Filed under: Books Continue reading →
July 12, 2015
The summer place
When I write this I’m in Sweden, staying at my parents’ summer place: it’s an old Swedish house right on the water (the water being a small inlet in the Bay of Bothnia), with a couple of smaller cabins clustered around it to house various family members, friends and relatives if and when they drop by. I’ve … Continue reading →
July 11, 2015
A mesmerizing mosaic of tales – MIDNIGHT AND MOONSHINE, by Lisa L. Hannett & Angela Slatter
Beneath is a bird cage. Made of polished antler, carved and stained the hue of honey, each rail wound with silver wire. Inside, not clinging to a perch, but huddling at the bottom on a folded piece of gold cloth, is a bird. From ‘Seeds’, Midnight and Moonshine. Midnight and Moonshine begins with the evocative … Continue reading →
July 9, 2015
Jorge Luis Borges, on dictionaries and translation
“The dictionary is based on the hypothesis – obviously an unproven one – that languages are made up of equivalent synonyms.” – Jorge Luis Borges As a translator and a writer, this quote rings very true for me. Words can not always (usually) be translated in a 100% accurate way. This is the constant … Continue reading →
